Distributing fire extinguisher



March 17, 1931. L- VAN scwER 1,796,416,

DISTRIBUTING FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed May 25, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ma'mb '17, 1931 L. VAN 'SCIVER 1,

DISTRIBUTING FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed May 25, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UETE STATS araar OFFICE DISTRIBUTING FIRE EXTINGUISI-IER Application filed May 23, 1928.

My invention relates to the chemical type of fire extinguishers in which a stream of fire extinguishing fluid, usually carbon dioxid and carbon-dioxid-laden aqueous solution, is made available by inverting the apparatus which is usually a container of acid and sodium carbonate solution. Turning the apparatus upside down lets the acid run into the carbonate solution and the resultant generation of gas gives the pressure for spraying the extinguishing fluid.

A purpose of my inventon is to support a chemical fire extinguisher adapted to spray fire extingusliing fluid if inverted, so that it will automatically turn over if subjected to undue heat, and spray its extinguishing fluid in all directions, preferably with rotation of the extinguisher. 1 pivotally support the extinguisher below its center of gravity and use a fuse element to mantain it in its unstable equilibrium.

A further purpose is to provide structure adapting different existing types of com mercial fire extinguishers to operate automatically if subjected to undue heat.

A further purpose is to spread the spray of an automatically operating fire extinguisher in all directions. 1 may provide the extinguisher with tangential discharge and an adaptation to rotate during discharge, or provide it with a form of nozzle adapted to discharge in all directions desirably aided by a swinging of the extinguisher during its Operation.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have elected to show one form only of my invention, with a minor detail modification, selecting a form that is particularly efficient and practical in operation and which well illustrates the principles involved.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of structure embodying a preferred form of my invention in normal position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1, showing the extinguisher in spraying position.

Figure 3 is a section of the holder shown in Figure 1 taken upon line 33 and omitting the extinguisher.

Serial No. 279,995.

Figure at is a perspective of a desirable form of discharge nozzle, shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing three discharge nozzles seen in Figure 1 but omitting the nozzle of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragment of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section of Figure 1 taken in the plane of the paper illustrating a supporting swivel adapting the extinguisher to rotate during spraying.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing a different form of discharge nozzle applied to an extinguisher.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all figures.

Describing in illustration and not in li1nitat-ion and referring to the drawings In the illustration an extinguisher 10, which may be of any suitable type, is horizontally pivoted at 11 below its center of gravity between the spaced arms of a yoke 12 being held upright between the arms of the mount in unstable equilibrium by a fuse element 13.

The mount 12 desirably comprises an inverted U metal strip and a clamp member 14 trunnioned between the arms of the U member near their ends and suporting the extinguisher, the vertical arms being upon op posits sides of the extinguisher.

The clamp member 14 is the supporting connection between the yoke and extinguisher and is adjustable to any desired position along the body of the extinguisher where lb is clamped upon the extinguisher by tightening a bolt 15 between end ears 16 and 17 of the clamp.

The U member is supported at the top by an upwardly extending rod 18, the rod having preferably a hook 19 at its upper end and swivel connection 20 with the top of the yolre about an axis parallel and midway between the arms of the yoke.

The hook 19 supports the yoke from above by engagement with a ring 21 or other suitable member fastened in any desired position covering the zone to be protected from fire.

As illustrated the yoke hangs vertically down from the hook and is free to rotate at the swivel in a horizontal plane.

1 ..how the clamp l l fastened to the body the extinguisher near its lower end but obviously all that is necessary in regard to the location I" ti o clamp is that it shall be fastened to (2 ie ngtisher at a sutn'cientiy the yolre l the usible connection etween one of the lcment may be of wire or of t adapted to tail automatied to a temperature at which .s the extingu sher operate. sting coinmer A. vii

in most fire extinoi": the chemical type the spray is o be directed by hand. the extinover and upright 1 2%- that is at the top when 'l iguia is not in use, the spray being directed by means ot' a tlexible hose connected at a union to a discharge outlet of the extinguis er. u

ere. ably I provide means whereby the extin uisher is adapted to spray in all directions during its automatic operation and maize suitable connection between the interior of the extinguisher to a nozzle or nozzles adzpted to accomplish this result.

11 the term shown in Figures 1 and 2 l r ride a ffi lllzll 'v of d... charge nozzl s l is be -bly given a tangential dis 1 he extingiusher rotate while igures l5 and i tangential discharge most adminextinguisher is adapted to rotate respons e cuts.

'e o discharge of extinguishing tiuid. i'lulc no set rule can be given as to the exrelation between nozzle outlet area and t charge inside the extinguisher,

U ct quantity or too best size for en conditions; is readily determined by experiment. The outlet 26 should be so proportional as to spray the ceiling. Lateral swinging of the extinguisher causes it to cover a wide ceiling area.

A desirable form of swivel support for the yoke is shown in F ule 7.

The hool; member carries a horizontal ball race 28 screwed at 29 to its lower end which gives ball bearing support to a sleeve member 50 fastened to the yoke.

Desirably the sleeve member is prevented from longitudinal movement along the rod by means of a washer 31 and pin 32 through the rod.

lhe main nozzles are provided by merely inserting them in existing caps or by supplying new caps to old extinguisher tanks, and the ceiling-spraying nozzle, when it is desired to use such a nozzle can be supplied by merely attaching it to the normal outlet in the place of the usual hose.

in the form shown in Figure 8 I illustrate a single discharge nozzle 53 adapted to spray in all directions without rotation of the extinguisher, in: ead oi the plurality of nozzles shown in l igures l and 2.

The nozzle may have any form adapting it to spray in all directions and is illustrated as a ring around the body of the ore tinguisher connected by a suitable pipe 3% to the union 25 of the commercial extinguisher.

This form has an advantage in that it dispenses with the need for rotation of the extinguisher during spraying. It is accommodated by replacement of the usual hose connection at the union 25 by the pipe 34; carrying the ring nozzle.

The ring nozzle is adapted to cover the entire area and the openings can be set to spray in any directions to accon' plish this.

in operation the charged extinguisher is suspended in its mount at a location where it will be adapted to spray thezone to be protected from fire, the extinguisher being held in unstable equilibrium by the fuse element.

In the event of fire an increase in temperature causes the fuse element to fail, which lets the extinguisher automatically turn bottom up, causing it to spray the extinguishing fluid in all directions, to put out the fire. Swinging of the extinguisher considerably increases the range covererd by the spray.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless hecome evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A. fire extinguisher adapted when inverted to spray fire extinguishing fluid, in

combination with a mount therefor comprising a yoke having opposite arms upon opposite sides of the extinguisher, a detachable band about the extinguisher forming a pivotal connection between the yoke and the extinguisher belowthe center of gravity of the extinguisher, a rotatable support for the yoke at the top thereof, means adapted to fail in the presence of undue heat for maintaining the extinguisher upright in an unstable equilibrium between the arms of the yollie and discharge means for rotating the yo e.

2. A fire extiguisher adapted when inverted to spray fire extinguishing fluid, in combination with a mount therefor comprising a yoke having opposite arms upon opposite sides of the extinguisher, a horizontal pivotal connection between the yoke and the extinguisher below the center of gravity of the extinguisher, a supportfor the yoke at the top thereof, a vertical pivotal connection between the yoke and support, and a discharge nozzle operative if the extinguisher be inverted to direct a spray of fluid from the extinguisher at an angle which is not radial.

3. A fire extinguisher adapted when inverted to spray fire extinguishing fluid, in combination with a mount therefor comprising a yoke having opposite arms upon opposite sides of the extinguisher, a detachable band about the extinguisher pivoted in the arms and pivoting the extinguisher below the center of gravity of the extinguisher, a rotatable support for the yoke at the top thereof, means adapted to fail in the pres ence of undue heat for maintaining the extinguisher upright in an unstable equilibrium between the arms or" the yoke, discharge means for rotating the yoke and a ceiling spraying nozzle carried by the extinguisher and adapted to be turned with the extinguisher.

4:. A fire extinguisher adapted when inverted to spray tire extinguishing fluid, in combination with a mount therefor comprising a yoke extending nearly the length of the extinguisher from above, a band surrounding the extinguisher and adapted to be clamped to it, located below the center of gravity of the extinguisher and pivotally connected to the yoke to permit tilting of the extinguisher, fire-release means for holding the extinguisher upright in the yoke in unstable equilibrium between the arms of the yoke, and upwardly and non-radially discharging means for spraying the extinguisher content and rotating the extinguisher.

LLOYD VAN SCIVER. 

